European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CALCIUM CARBIDE RIPENED BANANA IMPAIR WHITE BLOOD CELL PROFILE BY ABATING LEUKOCYTE PROMOTING FACTORS IN RAT MODEL

Onwuka Osah Martins* and Chamberlain Victoria Chiamaka

ABSTRACT

The study was aimed at investigating mechanism of impairment of white blood cell profile in male Wistar rats orally administered Calcium Carbide (CaC2) ripened banana (Musa spp). Twenty five (25) male Wistar rats weighing 150g – 210g were randomly divided into five (5) groups: Group 1 (control) received 2ml of distilled H2O; Group 2 received 2ml of naturally ripened banana, Group 3, 4. & 5 received 2ml of 5g/kg of CaC2, 15g/kg of CaC2, and 25g/kg of CaC2 ripened banana respectively. All administration was done orally for 28days. Thereafter blood samples were collected from the animals for laboratory assays. The samples were assayed for white blood cell profile and leukocyte promoting factors (leukopoietin, interleukin -3(IL-3), and prostaglandins). Results showed significant dose dependent decrease in leukocyte promoting factors: leukopoietin (Figure 1), interleukin -3 (Figure 2) and prostaglandin (Figure 3) when compared to Group 1 and Group 2, P<0.05. It also showed dose dependent significant reduction in white blood cell profile (Total WBC count, and WBC differential count) (Table1) when compared to Group 1 and Group 2, P<0.05. Conclusively, this study suggests that Calcium Carbide (CaC2) ripened banana causes impairment of white blood cell profile by decreasing leukocyte promoting factors; leukopoietin, interleukin -3(IL-3), and prostaglandins- E2 (PGE2).

Keywords: Calcium Carbide (CaC2), leukocytes, leukopoietin, interleukin -3 (IL-3), prostaglandins- E2 (PGE2), white blood cells.